Page 65 of The Scars Within
How rude.
I haven’t seen Rhodes since he scooped me from my room. Even during the brief moments I’ve stepped out of my dorm, he was nowhere to be found within the college.
What if he returned to his room expecting to find me there, only to find I had left? What if he took my absence as a big ‘fuck you stay away from me’ sign? The evidence that he slept on the floor that night was clear, but where had he been all morning while I was still asleep?
Suddenly craving fresh air, I snapped my book shut and slipped on my boots. I made my way up to the rooftop, plopping down on the parapet with my feet dangling over the edge. As I settled back into mybook, the warm breeze helped clear my mind. I’d only made it through a few paragraphs when the creak of the iron door sounded behind me.
A smile tugged at my lips, and I felt a blush creep up my cheeks—one I could easily blame on the heat. I shifted, propping one foot up as I turned to see Rhodes.
But it wasn’t Rhodes–
My heart stopped.
It was Captain Thorne, standing there as the iron door slammed shut behind him. The sun highlighted his rugged features, strikingly contrasting the bright light. His deep blue eyes gleamed intensely, and the stubble on his chin had grown since our last encounter in Intro to Air Wielding. He wasn’t wearing his military uniform; he wore thick black breeches, a black tunic layered with a leather vest, and scuffed riding boots.
His facial expression when he locked eyes with me looked like he wanted to push me off the parapet. I watched his jaw muscles tighten, and his expression of disgust washed over me like a wave of shame.
I realized then that my expression must have looked like a lost puppy, desperately seeking a loving home from anyone who would take me in after the one who was supposed to protect me kicked me out on the streets.
Thorne turned on his heel and reached for the door, not even acknowledging my existence. That’s when my shame ignited into boiling anger.
I am tired of being a lost puppy.
I am tired of being kicked while I’m already down.
I am tired of taking shit from someone who doesn’t deserve me.
I sprang to my feet and let out the angriest growl I’d ever made, shouting, “Thorne!”
My father stopped mid-step, his shoulders rising and falling as he took deep breaths. Then, with a sudden movement, he slammed the irondoor, making me flinch. I quickly regained my composure, refusing to let him see me as weak.
“That isCaptainThorne to you,” he growled.
I slowly shook my head, exhaling roughly. “You’re nocaptainto me,” I retorted, emphasizing the word ‘captain.’
Within a few strides, he was towering over me. He raised his chin, looking down his nose at me. The intensity in his body language was palpable, and his sheer size made me feel even smaller. And unlike Rhodes and Shayde, I felt incredibly inferior.
I could feel the weight of his disapproval pressing down on me.
I could feel his shame in bringing me into this world.
I could feel the burden on his shoulders that I brought onto his life.
It took every ounce of willpower to hold my ground. With my shoulders back, chin held high, feet firmly planted, and hands clenched into fists, I refused to waver. I wasn’t going to crumble any further because of him.
I let him look at me. Let him feel that burning shame within his soul. Not because of who I am but because of what he did.
He stepped back and dipped his chin, yet his eyes never left mine. “How did she get you enrolled here?”
I scrunched my brows at his convoluted question.
“I said. How?” He said indifferently. “Is she married to someone who now passes as your biological father? Lily isn’t an elemental. That must be what she did just to get back at me. And I’m not going to stand for it. You’re gone, cadet.”
He turned to leave, but I spoke up. “My mother is dead.”
Captain Thorne stopped mid-step. “So it wasyouthen. You forged some fucking plan to get in here,” he said insolently without meeting my gaze.
Shaking my head, I said, “No. No! I am your daughter, Thorne. I used your documentation to enroll here because I have nothing left—because ofyou.”
